ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL FACULTY SENATE BY-LAWS

Article I – Name

The name of this group shall be the Administrative Senate, hereinafter referred to as the Senate.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of the Senate is to serve as a liaison between Radford University’s Administrative and Professional Faculty and the university community. The Senate shall strive to promote the interests of all Administrative and Professional Faculty while working to ensure that Radford University meets its stated mission.

Article III – Functions

To study, formulate, and recommend to the President’s Cabinet policies and procedures affecting the employment and working conditions of Administrative and Professional Faculty. Areas for consideration include, but are not limited to: morale of Administrative and Professional Faculty; procedures for appointing, evaluating, disciplining, recognizing, and promoting Administrative and Professional Faculty; grievance policies and procedures; benefits, educational and personal leave, and extra-university professional activity; and matters of equality and diversity that affect the university’s professional environment.

Article IV – Membership

Definitions

University Division: Units headed by the President or a Vice President/Provost as defined by the current University organizational chart available on the HR web site.

Executive

Academic Affairs

Finance & Administration

Information Technology

Student Affairs

University Advancement

Section 1 – Eligibility

Radford University’s Administrative and Professional Faculty are those who, by definition, devote at least 51 percent of their time at the university to administrative duties and who are not covered by the Virginia Personnel Act nor by the personnel policies applicable to Teaching and Research Faculty.

All Administrative and Professional Faculty at Radford University are eligible to serve as members of the Administrative Senate except those who serve on the President’s Cabinet.

Section 2 – Composition

Members of this Senate shall be elected by the Administrative and Professional Faculty from each university division based on the organization of the university. On March 1 of each year, the current number of full-time Administrative and Professional Faculty employees in each division shall be reviewed and composition of the Administrative Senate shall be adjusted based on the following criteria:

1-20 employees - 1 Senator

21-40 employees - 2 Senators

41+ employees - 3 Senators

The library shall have one dedicated seat regardless of the number of Administrative and Professional Faculty members in the library. The number of full time Administrative and Professional Faculty used in calculating the total representation from Academic Affairs shall not include the number of employees in the library.

After the annual review, the divisions and number senators allocated to each division shall be listed on the Administrative Senate web site under Senate Composition.

Section 2a – Cabinet Liaison

In addition to the members defined above, the Senate shall include one non-voting Cabinet liaison. The President’s Cabinet shall select and recommend this liaison to the Senate Executive Council, which shall review the qualifications and confirm or deny this individual. The term for this position shall be two years. The same individual may serve multiple terms. This position shall serve as a conduit between the Administrative Senate and the President’s Cabinet and help streamline information flow.

Section 3 – Elections

Members of this Senate shall be determined by elections held no later than May 1st. All Administrative and Professional Faculty, as defined in Article IV, Section 1 above, are eligible to vote.

Section 4 – Term of office

Members shall serve a two-year term that shall coincide with the university fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Members of the Senate shall be eligible for re-election. If a vacancy occurs during a term the Senate President shall nominate a division representative, who must be confirmed by the Executive Committee to fill the office until the next election cycle.

Section 5 –Duties of Senators

Senators are expected to attend a majority of Senate meetings. If a Senator is unable to fulfill his/her obligation, then he/she should resign. Upon a Senator’s resignation, a special election shall be held to fill that seat.

Article V – Officers

Section 1

The elected officers of this Senate shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Parliamentarian, who shall collectively serve as the Executive Committee. The term of Senate officers is one year.

Section 2

The officers of the Senate shall be elected by the members of the Senate at the first meeting of the fiscal year. Elections shall be determined by plurality of votes cast.

Section 3

The President and Vice-President may be re-elected but cannot serve more than three consecutive years. The Secretary and Parliamentarian may be re-elected and serve an unlimited number of years.

Section 4

If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, a new election shall take place. If a vacancy occurs among the elected officers other than the President, the President shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, a person to complete the vacated term of office.

Article VI – Duties of Officers

Section 1

It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Senate; to consider all motions regularly made; and to call special meetings. The President shall also appoint the chairs of any standing committees and all committees not otherwise provided for in the By-Laws, taking into consideration a diverse representation of membership. The President shall be a non-voting ex-officio member of all committees. The President or his/her designee shall also be the representative of this Senate on appropriate university committees, task forces, and boards.

Section 2

In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice-President shall become familiar with the work of the Senate and shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3

The Secretary shall record all official proceedings of the meetings of this Senate and the Executive Committee of this Senate and transmit the proceedings to the President and the Executive Committee.

Section 4

The Parliamentarian shall be familiarized with Robert’s Rules of Orders and monitor all Senate meetings to ensure the rules of order are followed.

Article VII – Executive Committees

Section 1

The Executive Committee shall conduct, manage, and control the business of this Senate during periods between the business meetings of this Senate.

Section 2

The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly at a time to be determined by the committee at its first meeting following annual elections. Other meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or at the request of a simple majority of the Executive Committee membership. The Executive Committee shall approve all committee memberships. All Executive meetings shall be open to the Senate membership.

Article VIII – Committees

Section 1

The Senate shall operate Standing Committees as deemed appropriate.

Section 2

Administrative and Professional Faculty representatives to Internal Governance committees shall be selected by this Senate from among any general membership of the Administrative and Professional Faculty.

Article IX – Meetings

Section 1

There shall be at least one business meeting annually. The time and the place of the meeting(s) shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 2

The members present at any Senate business meeting at which written notice has been given shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 3

The time and place of meetings shall be announced in advance to the general membership of the Administrative and Professional Faculty, and all meetings shall be open to the general membership.

Section 4

The approved minutes of all public sessions at Senate meetings shall be published and made available to the general membership of the Administrative and Professional Faculty.

Article X – Amendments

Section 1

Except as is provided in Section 2 below, amendments to the By-Laws may be acted upon only at a meeting of the Senate. If presented in writing to all members of the Senate at least thirty (30) days prior to a business meeting at which the proposed change is to be considered, then the amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the membership present. Any proposed amendments to the By-Laws NOT presented in writing to all members of the Senate thirty (30) days in advance of a business meeting may be adopted by at least four-fifths of the members present.

Section 2

These By-Laws and any amendments made thereto become effective immediately upon a vote of the membership.

Article XI – Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the Senate not otherwise specified by the Bylaws.